After the unusual spring weather we’ve been having, a little taste of winter seems to have returned if only for a little while. It brings to mind the myth of Persephone.

Persephone (called Prosperpine by the Romans) was the daughter of Zeus and Demeter, the goddess of the harvest. Hades, the god of the underworld, was captivated by her beauty and one day abducted her taking her to the underworld to be his bride. Her mother was heartbroken and searched far and wide for her daughter. While doing so she neglected her tending of the earth. This resulted in the end of spring and growth on the earth. Seeing that this was causing problems (people were growing hungry) Zeus demanded that Hades return Persephone to her mother. Before doing so, Hades tricked Persephone into eating four pomegranate seeds knowing that anyone who ate or drank in the underworld would be destined to stay there forever. And so Persephone was allowed to spend two-thirds of the year with her mother above so the earth would produce, but was forced to return to Hades for four months of the year – the duration of our winter.

Some time ago, I dreamed of Persephone. She came and offered me pomegranate seeds only these seeds weren’t fresh – they were dried and shriveled up like raisins. It was unfortunate that something woke me up too soon. The dream seemed unfinished. Something was about to happen and I’ve been wondering ever since what it could have been. Would I have taken the pomegranate seeds she offered? What then? And what did it mean that the seeds were desiccated and not fresh?

In my dream, because I woke up, Persephone went away. Just as now, with the return of the chill, she seems to have stepped away again. But her story reminds us always that spring will return. Like Demeter, the good mother earth longs to see her daughter – young and fertile – the season that brings new life.

Pomegranates (1885) by Otto Wilhelm Thome

A Visit From Persephone

Persephone came to me one night Offering seeds in the waning light Is it a vision of the past that I see Or a hint of what is yet to be?

If I refuse these gifts you bring, Will my life return to spring? Or, since they’ve withered, in a backwards way, Would I see spring begin to decay?

If my dreams do foretell But in waking I break the spell With waking conscience I must choose. The dawning spring is mine to lose.

With no guidance from slumber deep (Or have I been given a gift from sleep?) I feel the choice is up to me Let winter hold me or set myself free.

26 Responses to A Visit From Persephone

How interesting. It is such great story. Believe me or not I just read it in ‘Shapeshifters, tales from Ovid’s Metamorphoses’ retold by Adrian Mitchell, to my daughter today.
Good poem & enjoyable illustrations.

Me too. They are classic and universal stories. Children and teens understand them instantly, because their minds are susceptible for metaphors and fantasies.
I’m glad to have found your wonderful blog.

I hope Persephone will finally leave the underworld and start celebrating being with Ceres again. (It was still pretty cold here in Belgium).

Maybe the seeds are shriveled because they’ve traveled so long (in terms of time) and so far (in terms of space) to get to you. In the dream world I tend to go for things — where else can you explore all possibility? Beautiful post. Thank you. Can’t wait to move on to Wallace!

Persephone seems to have left here too. We have had snow showers and freezing cold wind. It’s a beautiful story, thanks for sharing. And now I know that I should never eat whenever I visit the underworld.

I love a lot of mythology…Greek is my favorite, but also love Norse, Egyptian, and others! A couple of my favorite myths are the various stories about denizens of Hades (Tantalus, Sisyphos, etc.) because some of our English words come from them. I also love the story of Persephone, and love that I learned more about her from your poem! Arachne and Orpheus and Eurydice are also faves! Have you read the book “Gods Behaving Badly”?

So far I’ve written about Greek and Roman myths, but would like to branch out a bit – there is so much out there and it’s all good! I’ve had a request to write about Orpheus and Eurydice so that will be coming soon. :) I have not read the book, but I think I’ve heard of it. You recommend it, I’m guessing? Hmm… maybe I’ll write about the denizens of Hades in October in time for Halloween. Arachne is a favorite of mine, too, so she’ll be here eventually. Thanks for reading!